Resistance control device

ABSTRACT

A resistance control device includes a resistance generating unit and a control unit. The resistance generating unit is adapted to be disposed proximate to an outer periphery of a flywheel, and includes a magnetic member having a pivotal end, and a free end that is adapted to be biased toward the flywheel, and a driven module disposed proximate to the free end of the magnetic member, and connected to the magnetic member. The control unit includes a cam rotatably operable to move the driven module such that, the magnetic member is driven to pivot toward or away from the flywheel. The cam is located between the driven member and a rotating axis of the flywheel so as to block the free end of the magnetic member from contact with the flywheel.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly to a resistance control device.

BACKGROUND

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional resistance control device is adapted to control the magnitude of a resistance that is applied to a flywheel 10. The conventional resistance control device includes abase seat unit 1, a supporting frame unit 2 and a magnetic resistance generating unit 3.

The base seat unit 1 includes a shaft seat 11, and a supporting shaft 12 mounted on the shaft seat 11.

The supporting frame unit 2 is connected to the base seat unit 1, and includes a pivot seat 21, a resilient member 22 having one end that is connected to the shaft seat 11, and a post 23 disposed to permit the pivot seat 21 to be mounted thereonto.

The magnetic resistance generating unit 3 is disposed proximate to and spaced apart from the flywheel 10, and includes a magnetic member 31, a driving member 32 and a control rod 33. The magnetic member 31 has a pivotal end 311 pivotally connected to the pivot seat 21, and a free end 312 connected to the other end of the resilient member 22. Two ends of the control rod 33 are respectively connected to the driving member 32 and the free end 312 of the magnetic member 31. The driving member 32 drives the control rod 33 to move the free end 312 of the magnetic member 31 such that, the magnetic member 31 is driven to pivot toward or away from the flywheel 10.

During operation, the driving member 32 is operable according to the requirement of a user to drive the control rod 33 to push or pull the free end 312 of the magnetic member 31, so that the magnetic member 31 pivots toward or away from the flywheel 10. When the magnetic member 31 is far away from the flywheel 10, the magnetic attractive force between the magnetic member 31 and the flywheel 10 is small, and the resistance applied to the flywheel 10 is also small. When the magnetic member 31 is proximate to the flywheel 10, the magnetic attractive force between the magnetic member 31 and the flywheel 10 is large, and the resistance applied to the flywheel 10 is thus large. Although the conventional resistance control device can be operated to adjust the resistance applied to the flywheel 10, the conventional resistance control device still has the following disadvantages:

1. Since the control rod 33 and the flywheel 10 are respectively disposed at two sides of the magnetic member 31, when the control rod 33 pushes or pulls the free end 312 of the magnetic member 31, it may undesirably separate from the magnetic member 31, or it may be broken such that, the magnetic member 31 may crash onto the flywheel 10 due to application of the magnetic attractive force, thereby leading to the failures of the magnetic member 31 and the flywheel 10. As a result, the maintenance costs of the magnetic member 31 and the flywheel 10 are increased.

2. Since the driving member 32 drives the magnetic member 31 through the control rod 33, the accuracy of the resistance adjustment may be adversely affected.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a resistance control device that directly drives a magnetic member by use of a cam so as to decrease the failure rates and the maintenance costs of the magnetic member and a flywheel.

According to the disclosure, the resistance control device is adapted to control the magnitude of a resistance that is applied to a flywheel. The resistance control device includes a supporting unit, a resistance generating unit and a control unit. The supporting unit includes a frame body, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft. The first, second, and third shafts are disposed on the frame body. The first shaft is adapted to permit the flywheel to be rotatably sleeved thereon. The resistance generating unit is adapted to be disposed proximate to an outer periphery of the flywheel, and includes a magnetic member having a pivotal end that is pivotally connected to the second shaft, and a free end that is adapted to be biased toward the flywheel, and a driven module disposed proximate to the free end of the magnetic member, and connected to the magnetic member. The control unit includes a cam rotatably sleeved onto the third shaft, abutting against the driven module, and operable to move the driven module such that, the magnetic member is driven to pivot toward or away from the flywheel. The cam is located between the driven member and a rotating axis of the flywheel so as to block the free end of the magnetic member from contact with the flywheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of a conventional resistance control device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a resistance control device according to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment, illustrating that a magnetic member is disposed proximate to a flywheel;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating that the magnetic member is moved so that it is closer to the flywheel; and

FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of the embodiment when being mounted to exercise equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the embodiment of a resistance control device according to the disclosure is adapted to control the magnitude of a resistance that is applied to a flywheel 100. The resistance control device includes a supporting unit 4, a resistance generating unit 5, a control unit 6 and a biasing unit 7.

The supporting unit 4 includes a frame body 41, a first shaft 42, a second shaft 43 and a third shaft 44. The frame body 41 includes two vertical supporting plates 411. The first, second and third shafts 42, 43, 44 are disposed on the frame body 41.

The first shaft 42 is adapted to permit the flywheel 100 to be rotatably sleeved thereon. The flywheel 100 is disposed between the supporting plates 411.

The resistance generating unit 5 is adapted to be disposed proximate to an outer periphery of the flywheel 100, and includes a magnetic member 51 and a driven module 52. The magnetic member 51 has a pivotal end 511 pivotally connected to the second shaft 43, and a free end 512 opposite to the pivotal end 511, and adapted to be biased toward the flywheel 100. The driven module 52 is disposed proximate to the free end 512 of the magnetic member 51, and is connected to the magnetic member 51. The driven module 52 includes a coupling rod 521 fixedly coupled to the magnetic member 51, and disposed proximate to the free end 512 of the magnetic member 51, and a driven member 522 rotatably sleeved onto the coupling rod 521.

In this embodiment, the driven member 522 of the driven module 52 is a bearing. It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the configuration of the driven member 522 may be varied.

The control unit 6 includes a cam 61 rotatably sleeved onto the third shaft 44, abutting against the driven member 522 of the driven module 52, and operable to move the driven module 52 such that, the magnetic member 51 is driven to pivot toward or away from the flywheel 100. The cam 61 is located between the driven member 52 and a rotating axis of the flywheel 100 so as to block the free end 512 of the magnetic member 51 from contact with the flywheel 100. The cam 61 of the control unit 6 has an outer peripheral surface 611, a wire receiving hole 612 formed in the outer peripheral surface 611, and spaced apart from the driven member 522 of the driven module 52, and a surrounding groove 613 formed along the outer peripheral surface 611. The control unit 6 further includes a control wire 62 partially wound on the outer peripheral surface 611 of the cam 61, and partially received in the surrounding groove 613. The control wire 62 has a fixed section 621 fixedly received in the wire receiving hole 612 of the cam 61, a winding section 622 extending from the fixed section 621, wound on the outer peripheral surface 611 of the cam 61, and received in the surrounding groove 613, and a control section 623 extending from the winding section 622, and located outside the surrounding groove 613. Through the operation of the control wire 62, the cam 61 can be driven to rotate so as to drive the movement of the driven member 522 of the driven module 52.

The biasing unit 7 is connected between the supporting unit 4 and the resistance generating unit 5, and includes a connecting rod 71 fixedly mounted to the free end 512 of the magnetic member 51, and a resilient member 72 having two ends that are respectively connected to the connecting rod 71 and one of the supporting plates 411 of the frame body 41 for biasing the free end 512 of the magnetic member 51 toward the flywheel 100, and for maintaining contact between the driven member 522 and the outer peripheral surface 611 of the cam 61.

In this embodiment, the resilient member 72 is a tension spring, and the configuration of the resilient member 72 may be varied in other embodiments. During operation of the resistance control device, a user may operate the control wire 62 to drive the rotation of the cam 61. The cam 61 then moves the driven member 522 so as to drive the magnetic member 51 to pivot toward or away from the flywheel 100. When the driven member 522 moves on the outer peripheral surface 611 of the cam 61, the distance between the driven member 522 and the fly wheel 100 is changed.

As described above, the cam 61 can directly drive the driven member 522 to adjust the distance between the magnetic member 51 and the flywheel 100, so that the resistance control device of the disclosure can accurately and steadily control and adjust the resistance applied to the flywheel 100. It should be noted that, since the cam 61 and the flywheel 100 are disposed at the same side of the magnetic member 51, when the magnetic member 51 is biased toward the flywheel 100, the cam 61 can stop the magnetic member 51 from crashing onto the flywheel 100. In such manner, failures of the magnetic member 51 and the flywheel 100 can be diminished, and the service life of the flywheel 100 can be prolonged.

Referring to FIG. 5, the embodiment of the resistance control device is mounted to exercise equipment 200. The exercise equipment 200 includes a bottom seat 201 disposed for allowing the resistance control device to be mounted thereonto, a belt pulley 202 spaced apart from the resistance control device, a belt 203 sleeved onto the belt pulley 202 and the flywheel 100 of the resistance control device, a post 204 mounted to the bottom seat 201, two handles 205 pivotally mounted to the post 204, and two connecting rods 206 each of which connects a respective one of the handles 205 to the belt pulley 202. The user may operate the handles 205 to drive the rotation of the belt pulley 202.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, during operation of the exercise equipment, the connecting rods 206 are respectively moved through operation of the handles 205 to drive the rotation of the belt pulley 202, and the rotation of the belt pulley 202 is then transferred to the flywheel 100. When the user desires to change the resistance applied to the flywheel 100, he or she operates the control wire 64 of the control unit 6 to drive the rotation of the cam 61 so as to vary the distance between the magnetic member 51 and the flywheel 100. As such, the resistance applied to the flywheel 100 is adjusted.

The following advantages can be concluded from the above-mentioned description:

1. By disposing the cam 61 and the flywheel 100 at the same side of the magnetic member 51, the magnetic member 51 can be prevented from contact with the flywheel 100 through the abutment with the cam 61. Furthermore, the cam 61 is hard to be broken and be automatically detached from the remaining portion of the resistance control device so that, the resistance control device of the disclosure can efficiently prevent the magnetic member 51 from directly crashing onto or rubbing against the flywheel 100, can decrease the failure rates and the maintenance costs of the magnetic member 51 and the flywheel 100, and can prolong the service lives of the magnetic member 51 and the flywheel 100.

2. The cam 61 directly abuts against the driven member 522 to control the distance between the magnetic member 51 and the flywheel 100. As a result, the resistance applied to the flywheel can be precisely and steadily adjusted to satisfy the requirement of the user.

3. The cam 61, the driven member 522, the coupling rod 521 and the magnetic member 51 cooperately form a structure which has high structural strength such that, the failure rate of the resistance control device of the disclosure can be effectively decreased.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments maybe practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A resistance control device adapted to control the magnitude of a resistance that is applied to a flywheel, comprising: a supporting unit including a frame body, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, said first, second and third shafts being disposed on said frame body, said first shaft being adapted to permit the flywheel to be rotatably sleeved thereon; a resistance generating unit adapted to be disposed proximate to an outer periphery of the flywheel, and including a magnetic member that has a pivotal end pivotally connected to said second shaft, and a free end adapted to be biased toward the flywheel, and a driven module that is disposed proximate to said free end of said magnetic member, and that is connected to said magnetic member; and a control unit including a cam that is rotatably sleeved onto said third shaft, that abuts against said driven module, and that is operable to move said driven module such that, said magnetic member is driven to pivot toward or away from the flywheel, said cam being located between said driven member and a rotating axis of the flywheel so as to block said free end of said magnetic member from contact with the flywheel.
 2. The resistance control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driven module of said resistance generating unit includes a coupling rod fixedly coupled to said magnetic member, and disposed proximate to said free end of said magnetic member, and a driven member rotatably sleeved onto said coupling rod.
 3. The resistance control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driven member of said driven module is a bearing.
 4. The resistance control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said cam of said control unit has an outer peripheral surface, and a surrounding groove formed along said outer peripheral surface; and said control unit further includes a control wire partially wound on said outer peripheral surface of said cam, and partially received in said surrounding groove.
 5. The resistance control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cam of said control unit further has a wire receiving hole formed in said outer peripheral 1 surface, and spaced apart from said driven member of said driven module, said control wire having a fixed section that is fixedly received in said wire receiving hole of said cam, a winding section that extends from said fixed section, that is wound on said outer peripheral surface of said cam, and that is received in said surrounding groove, and a control section that extends from said winding section, and that is located outside said surrounding groove.
 6. The resistance control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame body includes two vertical supporting plates, the flywheel being disposed between said supporting plates.
 7. The resistance control device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a biasing unit connected between said supporting unit and said resistance generating unit, and including a connecting rod that is fixedly mounted to said free end of said magnetic member, and a resilient member that has two ends respectively connected to said connecting rod and one of said supporting plates of said frame body for biasing said free end of said magnetic member toward the flywheel. 